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View Full Version : Achieved $10 Million in Sales. Looking for a new Opportunity. Cover Letter



T-Man
Apr 11th, 2012, 09:47 PM
Dear XXXX

My name is T-Man and I would like to be considered for the position of Sales Consultant. Most of my professional sales experience had been in the highly competitive market of Mississauga dealing with a wide diverse mult-cultural clientele.

I sold over 300 Vehicles for Erin Dodge Chrysler Jeep. In the last 3 years I have accomplished approximately $10 Million dollars in Direct Sales for my dealership helping people make some of the 2nd biggest purchase decisions. Many of my sales have also resulted in additional revenue in extended warranties and rust proofing as well. I've gotten very creative finding my own customers by advertising my products and services through online forums and had a few hundred thousands views from people clicking in and reading them. As a result 50% of my sales would come from my online prospecting efforts generating my own leads and referrals while the other 50% was from walk in traffic, and dealership advertising efforts. I had people contact me from outside my home market of Mississauga to do business with me from Ottawa, Barrie, Sudbury, Windsor etc (I have bills of sales to support this). Dozens of people have left feedbacks for me online and I’m very proud to say they are all 100% positive so I have an excellent online reputation. Although I prefer to close a customer face to face, one of the skills I’m good at is closing over the phone/email. I always try to sell the appointment over the phone but for some of the out of town customers I’ve sold, the first time we meet is the day they take delivery so everything from credit applications, bills of sales, insurances would all be done prior to them stepping into the dealership. Also, at my company I was recognized for being in the top 3 performers at the Year End party. I was also chosen and approved by my company head office to represent our brand 2 years in a row at the Toronto Auto Show for 2010 and 2011.

I believe in relationship selling, using consultative approach offering the best value and solutions to their specific needs, whether that's always returning clients phone call or emails quickly to their questions or inquiries. I've met up with clients beyond business hours, or picked them up from the Airport/work, train station, drove them home, had lunch with them whatever they needed to get the sale done. I’m not the type that would just sit at the doors waiting for the next walk in customers, I'm the type that would "turn over every rock" to find new sales opportunities and I believe in “thinking outside the box”.

My wife and I just bought a lovely house here in Peterborough to be closer to family and so I had to leave my previous position in Mississauga and I'm now looking for new opportunities. I would love to be invited for an interview to see if we would be a mutual fit for each other and be able to call (Company Name) my new home.

Sincerely,
.

T-Man


I've search all the usual sites like Workopolis, Monster, Kijiji, jobrapido, indeed, wowjobs, etc. Every sales related posting even commission ones that I'm interested in require a degree, or bachelor this or technical that. I don't have any university, only college. I would love to do something like pharmaceutical sales or some sort of business to business sales, logistics perhaps. (Not interested in Door 2 door Hot water tank type jobs).

My ideal position would be something where I can build/maintain relationships/accounts with other companies where I can get repeat orders, or residual commission. I don't mind travelling as well.

I know there's a hidden job market out there perhaps something I haven't considered before, if you're a potential employer reading this, please don't hesitate to contact me and we can see if some of my experience can be a fit for you.

I've spoke to a few dealerships in my city, Ford, Toyota and Chrysler. They are very interested in having me onboard but before I go pick one, I'd like to see if there's potentially something else out in the Kawartha/Durham region that I could be an Asset to.

Thank you!

chedo009
Apr 11th, 2012, 11:25 PM
The hidden job market that you might be referring to is likely the one hidden in the secret dreamland populated by leprechauns and forest fairies. No seriously, if your recent experience is concentrated in a given industry, then you a highly likely to be stuck appying, and if you are among the skilled and lucky ones, receiving offers from that same industry, which, in your case, are car dealerships, and therefore you should stick to that as you seem to have a good sales record, if you can prove it with refereces. Also, you should know that any industrial sales position would require any given type of engineering degree as well as many years of gained sales experience and highly technical knowledge. Furthermore, any sales rep position in the pharma industry,which is long past its glorious prime, would require a bachelor degree, preferably in science. Finally, the only B2B sales positions offered in the todays highly limited job market are the inside B2B phone sales rep positions in companies such as Insight, PC Mall, Brother, Canon, Xerox, etc. but you do not seem to fit that profile at all.

RolandCouch
Apr 12th, 2012, 12:00 AM
I'd take the time to proofread your letter.

eiad77
Apr 12th, 2012, 12:03 AM
It sounds like you want to be an account manager. Maybe you can look for positions with that in the job title.

ETA: By the way I remember you had a thread about your experiences as a car salesman, but I can't find it. Would you mind giving me the link?

nauru
Apr 12th, 2012, 12:24 AM
It sounds like you want to do institutional sales.

However your letter talks only about individual sales. Granted it sounds like you are pretty good at individual sales. However the methods you highlight as keys to your success are a) people walking through the door; and b) finding prospects by chatting in online forums and then following up via email/phone. These methods are fine if you are aiming for positions which involve individual sales. But nothing in your letter indicates that you have any interest in, experience with, or understanding of, institutional sales. Institutions don't generally walk in the door, and procurement via strangers on internet forums is generally frowned upon in major organisations.

Have you sold to any business, government agency, charity or non-profit before ever? Was it anyone the reader might be familiar with?

How do you get an institutional client, how were their needs different from individuals' needs, and why are you interested in dealing with more institutions now instead of individuals? That experience, if you have it, should be central to your letter. IMO.

Abel4Life
Apr 12th, 2012, 12:56 AM
Maybe you should see if any opportunities these guys staff for might help. It is an agency focused on sales positions. They post their open reqs on their site.

http://salestalentagency.com/

NutsandBolts
Apr 12th, 2012, 08:53 AM
Hi

I have no advice to give but as a former employer and as someone that needs to make his own cover letter, I have some observations/questions, maybe other RFDers can comment.

From what I was told about cover letters, keep it short. This one is (for me) way too long. I didn't even want to read it the first time all the way through.
The author comes off (for me) as arrogant/pretentious with what seems like boasting. Is this a normal way to make a cover?

Op please take no offense to my critics, as I am no expert, just trying to see what other people thought.

jimmy-j
Apr 12th, 2012, 08:57 AM
I'd take the time to proofread your letter.

+1

or get someone to do it for you. and no potential employer wants to read your life story. keep it short and to the point.

a cover letter that long should come with a table of contents and bookmark.

dutchca
Apr 12th, 2012, 08:23 PM
Hey T-Man.

I agree your cover letter is wordy and somewhat confusing.

If you are looking for a sales job - try Sysco Food Services and their Marketing Associate program.

hvc
Apr 12th, 2012, 11:06 PM
+1 on the CL comments. I'd work on it - that one paragraph is absolutely ridiculous lol. Don't even get me started on the grammar. If you got offers with that, I suppose you do better in person but that cover letter will do you zero justice.

Just my $0.02

Jon Lai
Apr 12th, 2012, 11:36 PM
+1 on the CL comments. I'd work on it - that one paragraph is absolutely ridiculous lol. Don't even get me started on the grammar. If you got offers with that, I suppose you do better in person but that cover letter will do you zero justice.

Just my $0.02

+1

Two sentences in and grammar problems were already popping up left and right. Employers don't really care about your grammar as much as they do about the obvious lack of detail that you've put into writing the letter itself.

random pattern
Apr 13th, 2012, 10:41 PM
If you're willing to do the Canadian Securities Course, you could easily get hired as a commission only investment advisor at a place like Edward Jones or Investors Group.

TodayHello
Apr 14th, 2012, 11:39 AM
As others have said, clean up the cover letter ...... beyond that, your experience lends itself to B2B sales, especially in the automotive field (do banks have sales reps that come to dealership and promote lending? do that)

nickia
Apr 15th, 2012, 06:59 AM
If you truly can sell, it'll be easy finding a job. Sales department is the revenue driver of any company - they won't care what degree you have as long as you get the job done.

Coke355mL
Apr 15th, 2012, 10:36 AM
If you truly can sell, it'll be easy finding a job. Sales department is the revenue driver of any company - they won't care what degree you have as long as you get the job done.

You obviously have no clue how business to business sales work.

To the OP, first of all, $10 million in sales is nothing to bark about because you have to look at the total cost of the products you are selling. I'm not doubting your skills but tell me $10 million in profit then I'll be impressed.

Second, I'm going to be brutally honest with you but at the end of the day, you're a glorifed car salesman and you'd be only good for the automative dealerships. The fact that you're excellent in sales and client relationship is only half of what it takes. The other half is being a subject matter expert in the industry you're in, and being able to understand your client's business and their needs. Some of this comes from formal education and most of it comes from experience.

How do you expect to land a job in anything outside of selling a cars when you no nothing about that industry. You can't just think you can sell any product and rely on your charismatic personality.

You're better off sticking to your industry or if you're willing, start from the bottom in another indudstry and learn your way up.

Abel4Life
Apr 15th, 2012, 11:38 PM
You obviously have no clue how business to business sales work.

To the OP, first of all, $10 million in sales is nothing to bark about because you have to look at the total cost of the products you are selling. I'm not doubting your skills but tell me $10 million in profit then I'll be impressed.

Second, I'm going to be brutally honest with you but at the end of the day, you're a glorifed car salesman and you'd be only good for the automative dealerships. The fact that you're excellent in sales and client relationship is only half of what it takes. The other half is being a subject matter expert in the industry you're in, and being able to understand your client's business and their needs. Some of this comes from formal education and most of it comes from experience.

How do you expect to land a job in anything outside of selling a cars when you no nothing about that industry. You can't just think you can sell any product and rely on your charismatic personality.

You're better off sticking to your industry or if you're willing, start from the bottom in another indudstry and learn your way up.

+1. Good input.

B2B sales is a different animal altogether. You have to be a subject matter expert and use a combination of sales consulting, relationship building, proposals etc etc.

Probably one of the toughest jobs out there. Rewarding for those that are good at it.

chedo009
Apr 16th, 2012, 12:20 AM
You obviously have no clue how business to business sales work.

To the OP, first of all, $10 million in sales is nothing to bark about because you have to look at the total cost of the products you are selling. I'm not doubting your skills but tell me $10 million in profit then I'll be impressed.

Second, I'm going to be brutally honest with you but at the end of the day, you're a glorifed car salesman and you'd be only good for the automative dealerships. The fact that you're excellent in sales and client relationship is only half of what it takes. The other half is being a subject matter expert in the industry you're in, and being able to understand your client's business and their needs. Some of this comes from formal education and most of it comes from experience.

How do you expect to land a job in anything outside of selling a cars when you no nothing about that industry. You can't just think you can sell any product and rely on your charismatic personality.

You're better off sticking to your industry or if you're willing, start from the bottom in another indudstry and learn your way up.

I fully agree with you on all points. Also, it's easy to assess the OP'S level of seriousness/interest in the subject or lack of thereof, just by noting the lack of any response/input from OP whatsover to all the comments/suggestions posted here above since he intially started this thread. So I guess it's about time to close this thread.

DavidY
Apr 16th, 2012, 01:34 AM
How about using bullets or in point form with your achievements, skills, experience, etc.?

Dave